The Mecca of Disc Golf

[mashnut]

It just so happens I've been computing the "attractiveness" of courses. This is the amount of activity they generate on DGCR in excess of what would be expected, based on the surrounding population. By this measure, Highbridge is the single disc golf complex that has the strongest drawing power: 33 times as powerful as the average course.

33.1 = Highbridge Hills, Highbridge, Wisconsin
19.8 = Flip City Disc Golf Park, Shelby, Michigan
15.5 = Glacier Point, Glacier Point, Alaska
15.1 = Lake Nacogdoches DGC, Nacogdoches, Texas
13.8 = Seven Pastures, Skagway, Alaska
13.4 = Mason County Park, Ludington, Michigan
12.2 = Sandy Point Resort DG Ranch, Lac Du Flambeau, Wisconsin
10.8 = Leviathan, Ludington, Michigan
9.7 = Whistler's Bend, Roseburg, Oregon
9.1 = Holler In The Hills, Brownsville, Kentucky

This thread seems to be more about cities to visit, so I added up the attractiveness of all the courses that share a city. Here are the top 25:

40.6 = Bowling Green, Kentucky
33.1 = Highbridge, Wisconsin
24.1 = Ludington, Michigan
20.6 = Charlotte, North Carolina
19.8 = Shelby, Michigan
18.8 = Nacogdoches, Texas
18.7 = Austin, Texas
15.5 = Glacier Point, Alaska
13.8 = Skagway, Alaska
13.6 = Flagstaff, Arizona
13.4 = Big Sky, Montana
12.8 = Moab, Utah
12.8 = Grand Rapids, Michigan
12.7 = Stevens Point, Wisconsin
12.5 = Brownsville, Kentucky
12.2 = Lac Du Flambeau, Wisconsin
12.1 = Roseburg, Oregon
11.7 = Tulsa, Oklahoma
11.3 = Traverse City, Michigan
9.4 = Huntsville, Alabama
9.0 = Spotsylvania, Virginia
8.9 = Rock Hill, South Carolina
8.8 = Appling, Georgia
8.8 = Kalamazoo, Michigan
8.6 = Red Feather Lakes, Colorado

Wait, where's Minneapolis? Well, the courses that list "Minneapolis" as their city don't include those in St. Paul, Bloomington, East Bethel, etc.

So, these are Mecca cities, not Mecca metros.

I suspect the ones in Alaska are more the result of a little bit of activity divided by almost zero nearby population.

Really interesting numbers, how did you define activity related to the course?

 

[DSCJNKY]

My only question is ? Should I go for quanity? Stay in Minneapolis and play every 9 hole rec course in sight? Or should I drive the four hours to Highbriddge and tackle those quality courses up there? I'm torn. The Highbridge courses are quite a bit over both my skill level (almost 60 year rec player) and stamina level (almost 60 year overweight, out of shape dude).

Definitely go play the best. I want to play everything too... but when on vacation... only the best will do. Squeeze in a crappier course if it's late in the day and you don't have the opportunity to get to something better. Otherwise, spoil yourself.
DSCJNKY

 

[kamojoe]

highbridge +1

small shoutout to joliet, IL.

 

[mashnut]

Joliet is nowhere near a mecca. It's one of the better clusters of courses around here, but compared to the great courses elsewhere in the country it just doesn't compare. Dave said it right, Joliet is an oasis.

 

[Bikinimower]

Hey Chain-addicted,
Every year I hit up a course or 2 on my way down to Myrtle Beach. If I could only play one course which would you recommend? Not counting Winthrop Gold, I already played that

 

[Steve West]

. . . I think you need an area (25 or 50 mile radius) rather than a town.

...

What is "the amount of activity they generate on DGCR"? Or is that your secret sauce?

Activity is the weighted average of Reviews, Played, Favorited, and Review Votes. Attractive Power is Activity divided by the Expected Activity which is based on the number of people who live nearby and the number of other courses around.

Rather than an area, I look for a good point, with a lot of courses nearby. I'm not a big fan of using a radius. That method tends to find areas with a lot of courses around the edge of the radius. For example, at a 100-mile radius, the "Mecca" would be the middle of Lake Michigan. I think courses near the middle should count more, and courses just outside the radius should count for something. Also, the size of the radius is arbitrary.

But, I ran the numbers anyway. Here are the top ten places to find a lot of courses that, for some reason, are very good at attracting attention from players who are on DGCR. The course listed is just the center of the circle, not the most important one. For example, the 35 mile radius around Telemark includes Highbridge.

The first number is the sum of the attraction powers of all the courses in the radius. I also counted the number of holes in the radius.

For a 45-mile radius:
86.3 (435 holes) Branstrom Park DGC, Fremont, Michigan
69.4 (303 holes) Holler In The Hills, Brownsville, Kentucky
64.4 (661 holes) Kiwanis Park, New Holstein, Wisconsin
60.5 (572 holes) Cedar Valley Middle School, Round Rock, Texas
57.6 (583 holes) Davidson College, Davidson, North Carolina
57.0 (821 holes) Twin Lakes Park, Nowthen, Minnesota
52.1 (197 holes) Whitecap, Upson, Wisconsin
48.8 (512 holes) Champoeg State Park, St. Paul, Oregon
45.4 (856 holes) Margreth Riemer Reservoir, Palatine, Illinois
43.7 (534 holes) Harlow Platts Park, Boulder (South Boulder), Colorado

For a 35-mile radius:
68.3 (255 holes) Flip City Disc Golf Park, Shelby, Michigan
65.3 (276 holes) Phil Moore Park, Bowling Green, Kentucky
54.4 (494 holes) Austin Ridge Bible Church, Austin, Texas
51.5 (506 holes) Nevin Park DGC, Charlotte, North Carolina
48.0 (436 holes) Lower Cato Falls County Park, Reedsville, Wisconsin
40.9 (175 holes) Telemark Resort DGC, Cable, Wisconsin
40.1 (202 holes) Shanty Creek DGC, Bellaire, Michigan
40.0 (623 holes) Mason Sports Park DGC, Mason, Ohio
39.1 (407 holes) Herbert Hoover Park, Newberg, Oregon
38.6 (574 holes) Bunker Hills, Andover, Minnesota

For a 25-mile radius:
64.1 (258 holes) Ephram White Park, Bowling Green, Kentucky
54.0 (503 holes) Zilker Park, Austin, Texas
52.8 (159 holes) Mason County Park, Ludington, Michigan
50.3 (525 holes) St. Francis Church, Shelbyville, Michigan
47.9 (470 holes) Renaissance Park, Charlotte, North Carolina
42.0 (440 holes) Kaukauna Jr. DGC, Kaukauna, Wisconsin
37.0 (583 holes) Bassett Creek Park, Minneapolis (Crystal), Minnesota
36.5 (54 holes) Raven's Bowl, Haines, Alaska
36.1 (371 holes) Greenway DGC, Beaverton, Oregon
35.0 (146 holes) Whitecap, Upson, Wisconsin

 

[DiscChucker]

Hey Chain-addicted,
Every year I hit up a course or 2 on my way down to Myrtle Beach. If I could only play one course which would you recommend? Not counting Winthrop Gold, I already played that

Mr. Addicted is currently banned so you're not going to get an immediate response from him at this time. I have a safe assumption that I know what he would say but I'll double check with him and let you know. Of course if you would like to correspond with him directly, he can be found on CDGC's forum under the same name.

 

[mashnut]

Cool stuff Steve, thanks for the explanation. A lot of those are pretty standard answers for disc golf destinations, but this one made me laugh:

45.4 (856 holes) Margreth Riemer Reservoir, Palatine, Illinois

I guess when you add up a ton of crappy courses with a tiny amount of attraction power with a few decent courses you get a good score

 

[AdamE]

Steve West busting out all sorts of good stats. Interesting stuff man and great point about using a point rather than a radius.

Rather than an area, I look for a good point, with a lot of courses nearby. I'm not a big fan of using a radius. That method tends to find areas with a lot of courses around the edge of the radius. For example, at a 100-mile radius, the "Mecca" would be the middle of Lake Michigan. I think courses near the middle should count more, and courses just outside the radius should count for something. Also, the size of the radius is arbitrary.

 

[Rockwell]

Maybe the Mecca isn't a city, but a single course that everyone yearns to play once in their life. If that is the case, I'd submit Winthrop Gold while the ropes are up in October. It has a mystique and eliteness to it that most golfers would love to experience at some point.

Because the World Championships move every year, this is our sport's most prestigious event that takes place on a single, beastly, mecca of a course. Kinda like Augusta National is to Ball Golf.

 

[gottafixit]

the one place I wanna go is Clearwater Florida......I used to live on Drew St near rt 19 20 yrs ago as a wayward youth.
I think playing where God plays regularly and playing in his footsteps as well as visiting the Clearwater Disc Golf Store along with the 4 best Pinellas County courses meets the definition of a pilgrimmage
To me thats a religious experience!
Visit God and come home with Trinkets....a once a yr or once a yr pilgrimmage to Mecca

While I'm sure you will have a good time on that trip I'm sure you will find the FL courses lacking from what your use to in PA.

 

[Dave242]

My (admittedly biased) opinion of meccas based on where I've been:
I won't vote for my hometown (Ann Arbor) though because a true "mecca" must have a journey involved.

1. Ludington, MI
2. Bowling Green, KY

Bowling Green, KY has a lot of courses in the town that are good and several within 30min of the city limits that are good as well, but I don't think there is a Disc Golf "Mecca" because everyone likes different courses and no one area will have all types of courses.

This thread seems to be more about cities to visit, so I added up the attractiveness of all the courses that share a city. Here are the top 25:

40.6 = Bowling Green, Kentucky
33.1 = Highbridge, Wisconsin
24.1 = Ludington, Michigan
20.6 = Charlotte, North Carolina
19.8 = Shelby, Michigan

The first number is the sum of the attraction powers of all the courses in the radius. I also counted the number of holes in the radius.

For a 45-mile radius:
86.3 (435 holes) Branstrom Park DGC, Fremont, Michigan
69.4 (303 holes) Holler In The Hills, Brownsville, Kentucky

For a 35-mile radius:
68.3 (255 holes) Flip City Disc Golf Park, Shelby, Michigan
65.3 (276 holes) Phil Moore Park, Bowling Green, Kentucky My

For a 25-mile radius:
64.1 (258 holes) Ephram White Park, Bowling Green, Kentucky
54.0 (503 holes) Zilker Park, Austin, Texas
52.8 (159 holes) Mason County Park, Ludington, Michigan

Looks like the DGCR Mecha has come down to a run-off between the Mason County area in MI and Bowling Green in KY. Nice call there esdubya!

My vote would have to go to KY since there are 2-3 more months per year (around 20-25%) that the courses are playable.

 

[Dave242]

Hey Chain-addicted,
Every year I hit up a course or 2 on my way down to Myrtle Beach. If I could only play one course which would you recommend? Not counting Winthrop Gold, I already played that

I am not he, but I take it from your profile you are travelling from Columbus OH. Definitely make a point of hitting Ashe County Park - designed by the same guy as Winthrop. I also really really like Yadkin County Park - even though it is rated only 3.5 (dinged hard for natural tees and not so good navigation).

Nevin, Hornet's Nest & Renny are all destination courses within a couple of miles of I-77 in Charlotte and Earlwood in Columbia is only a few miles off the highway route (I-77 & I-20) to Myrtle Beach and is a unique and memorable course that does not seem to get near the notoriety here that it deserves.

Have fun mowing at Myrtle Beach!

 

[gottafixit]

Mid Atlantic is stronger than many realize.

*But, with that said, it also appears to me, that the group spoken about was more interested in scoring disc; than getting your butt kicked disc.*

Whats meant by scoring disc? Do you mean playing the easiest layout?

I'll say that when I go on road trips I play as many courses as I can. I've been on 3 (PA to CT, VA to FL, and WA/OR) on which I played 30+ courses in under a week(all my Road Trips are viewable in my route planner). So When I travel I first try to play my level which is White, and if not available I see which set of tees looks more interesting, but more often then not opt for the shorter tees in order to not tire out my arm.

On this trip in question I played the following courses.
Friday - 2 rounds at White Bank Park, Colonial Heights VA
Sat - 1 Round each in the following order, N Cabarrus, Reedy Creek, Killborne, Renny, Mint hill
Sun - 1 each, Dorton Park, Hornest Nest, Nevin, Eastway, I had hoped we would also get to Sugaw but I got vetod in order to hit the road at a decent time.

Charlotte has some nice courses. The biggest thing they have going for them is all the courses are well equipped(Concrete tees, signs, many multiple baskets).

 

[tallpaul]

Whats meant by scoring disc? Do you mean playing the easiest layout?

I'll say that when I go on road trips I play as many courses as I can. I've been on 3 (PA to CT, VA to FL, and WA/OR) on which I played 30+ courses in under a week(all my Road Trips are viewable in my route planner). So When I travel I first try to play my level which is White, and if not available I see which set of tees looks more interesting, but more often then not opt for the shorter tees in order to not tire out my arm.

On this trip in question I played the following courses.
Friday - 2 rounds at White Bank Park, Colonial Heights VA
Sat - 1 Round each in the following order, N Cabarrus, Reedy Creek, Killborne, Renny, Mint hill
Sun - 1 each, Dorton Park, Hornest Nest, Nevin, Eastway, I had hoped we would also get to Sugaw but I got vetod in order to hit the road at a decent time.

Charlotte has some nice courses. The biggest thing they have going for them is all the courses are well equipped(Concrete tees, signs, many multiple baskets).

I wasn't givin' ya a hard time gottafixit; prerube was just cheering up shorter Reedy, at @5,000 (which is a range of course that I too enjoy, for the possibilities of scoring better), vs. Nevin's kick yo a$$ style.

And; I'm well aware of the need to play a shorter layout now and again on the mega roadtrip.

 

[harr0140]

Mr. Addicted is currently banned.

What did the big guy do?

 

[gottafixit]

I wasn't givin' ya a hard time gottafixit; prerube was just cheering up shorter Reedy, at @5,000 (which is a range of course that I too enjoy, for the possibilities of scoring better), vs. Nevin's kick yo a$$ style.

And; I'm well aware of the need to play a shorter layout now and again on the mega roadtrip.

No worries I didn't take it that way. I was just making sure I understood you. The rest was to explain how most of my road trips go down. On a side note I enjoy a good hard course, seatac comes to mind, but for me a challenging course doesn't require a high par.

 

[Tolbert]

.....playing Iron Hill and its SSA Gold Par of 72 will change a man's thinking about what a difficult course is

Heck yes. Good looking out.

The addition of Camp Sankanac is really putting Eastern PA up there. I think Nockamixon, Sankanac and Tyler are definitely in my top 10 and hard contenders for top 5.

 

[mashnut]

Looks like the DGCR Mecha has come down to a run-off between the Mason County area in MI and Bowling Green in KY. Nice call there esdubya!

My vote would have to go to KY since there are 2-3 more months per year (around 20-25%) that the courses are playable.

It would be tough to choose between those two, but I would probably agree, especially since BG isn't too far from another destination area in Cincinnati.

 

[CFH-mn]

My only question is ? Should I go for quanity? Stay in Minneapolis and play every 9 hole rec course in sight? Or should I drive the four hours to Highbriddge and tackle those quality courses up there? I'm torn. The Highbridge courses are quite a bit over both my skill level (almost 60 year rec player) and stamina level (almost 60 year overweight, out of shape dude).

forget mpls say twin cities... the twin cities is full of dog turd 9 holers, with plenty of gold mine 18+ courses around...
start on the east side- oakwood/valley/kaposia/acorn/lakewood then hit the big $$$ Bryant lake, and awesome blue ribbon pines... let me know if you need a guide...